Chip ... and DON'T run!

**King Norre** · March 19, 2008

First of all, I'm new to the game (been playing for almost 1 year now) so forgive my ignorance. I'm always having trouble with a chip when the flag is close to the border of the green. This means you have to chip the bal near the border and somehow it has to stop quickly. And that's my problem! My ball always keeps rolling way too far, even if I use my 56°SW. Do I need a 60° LW for that or is there something wrong with my chip technique?
How do you guys do it?

Thanks in advance,

KN

**FoosIason** · March 19, 2008

I'm sure there is a cut of longer grass. Try to knock some speed off your chip by smothering it into that longer grass. That should kill the speed leaving you with a relatively short putt.

I'm going to advise you to not attempt a "flop shot". You have been golfing for hardly a year, this is just something you shouldn't attempt yet.

here is a good definition of it: A flop shot is a shot in golf in which the player uses a lofted club, such as a sand wedge or a lob wedge, rotates the clubhead to an open position, and strikes down on the ball. This causes the ball to be launched at a very high angle and not travel very far. Also, it creates a high amount of backspin. Players use this shot in situations where the flagstick is very close to the edge of the green, so it is necessary for the ball to stop quickly.

No offense or anything but generally only better players should attempt this shot. I play to a five and I don't like this shot, but sometimes it just has to be done. Good luck.

**Hank** · March 19, 2008

I'm going to advise you to not attempt a "flop shot". You have been golfing for hardly a year, this is just something you shouldn't attempt yet.

While it's true that attempting "flop shots" are and should be a last option, it's always good to have the shot available to you no matter the skill level.

The only way you will know if you can use this shot effectively is practice. And practice. And even a bit more practice. It took me a few months on the practice greens, but once I was able to hit the shot effectively, it helped me immensely with those difficult pin positions.

**FoosIason** · March 19, 2008

The only way you will know if you can use this shot effectively is practice.

I'll second that. I forgot to mention to practice the shot over and over until you get bored with it.

It'll save your butt when you have to get the ball up and down very quickly. Good luck.

**pjsnyc** · March 19, 2008

First of all, I'm new to the game (been playing for almost 1 year now) so forgive my ignorance. I'm always having trouble with a chip when the flag is close to the border of the green. This means you have to chip the bal near the border and somehow it has to stop quickly. And that's my problem! My ball always keeps rolling way too far, even if I use my 56°SW. Do I need a 60° LW for that or is there something wrong with my chip technique?

Short-siding yourself is never an easy situation...even for the pros!

**BASHERBAKER69** · March 19, 2008

putt it through the rough!

**FoosIason** · March 19, 2008

putt it through the rough!

Yeah good luck with that in my neck of the woods.

That shot would be just as hard, if not harder than the flop-shot. It's such a finesse shot. Now depending on how deep into the rough you are, you could use the toe of your putter if it's a blade style. But more times than not using a iron, wedge, or even a fairway wood or hybrid will be the better bet.

**BASHERBAKER69** · March 19, 2008

OR DO WHAT VIJAY SINGH HAS DONE- pull your driver out and place it behind the ball, put it back in your bag and then putt it, cos now you ve got a space bored out to swing the putter head...lol

seriously, 8 iron, putter grip, and just dab it gently!

**Leek** · March 19, 2008

You have a number of options for this situation and what you should do depends on what you have confidence in trying.

One option, take a 9 iron, pitching wedge or even a gap wedge, hit a low chip that lands a few feet short in the rough, bounces onto the fringe and trickles.

Another way, get a 60 degree wedge, learn to just hit a medium trajectory pitch shot, land it about halfway to the hole and it let it roll out a few feet. The only warning is to make sure you land on the green. Properly hit, it won't bounce out if you are short. You may not get it as close as you like, but you'll be putting and it should take no more than two putts from there.

Another option is something that's not a traditional chip n run and not a flop either. Set up for a chip, only more open. Open the face of your highest lofted wedge, play the ball in the back of your stance and make a short aggressive swing. The ball will pop out with some spin and sit pretty quickly.

The last option I'll list is a "sand trap type" flop shot. Only play this if the ball is in a reasonably good lie in the rough. Open your stance, open the clubface play the ball off your left heel, make a long swing like you would for a greenside buker shot, hit a few inches behind the ball and use the rough to cushionthe blow. It will come out high and soft, but will run a little bit.

If you master those, you could move to a full blown flop shot. Heck, if you master those, you won't need a full blown flop shot, you'll need a safe deposit box to hide tha cash you're taking from all of your buddies!

**King Norre** · March 19, 2008

Thanks for the advice guys! So I have to learn the flop shot, mmm... guess it's time for another lesson with the Pro Do you need a lob wedge (60°) to perform a lob shot or can it also be done with a sand wedge (56°)?
Chipping in the rough just outside of the green is also an option, but because the rough conditions are different on every course it's kinda hard to get some consistency, I mean, the ball will always react differently according to the conditions of the rought, not?

Thanks,

KN

**Wisco-Kid** · March 19, 2008

I think that you should go ahead and try the flop shot. Who cares if you don't get it right next to the hole right now. It is not like you are playing for the British Open. Also because you have only played for 1 year you probably just don't have the feel for a really delicate shot. A flop shot actually came really naturally for me. On the other hand really delicate short sided chips are very hard for me to get the feel right.

**Leek** · March 19, 2008

OR DO WHAT VIJAY SINGH HAS DONE- pull your driver out and place it behind the ball, put it back in your bag and then putt it, cos now you ve got a space bored out to swing the putter head...lol

That would be a two shot penalty for improving your lie.

**FoosIason** · March 19, 2008

OR DO WHAT VIJAY SINGH HAS DONE- pull your driver out and place it behind the ball, put it back in your bag and then putt it, cos now you ve got a space bored out to swing the putter head...lol

hahahaha

that's hilarious.

**Wisco-Kid** · March 19, 2008

Thanks for the advice guys! So I have to learn the flop shot, mmm... guess it's time for another lesson with the Pro

You dont need a lob wedge right now. The flop can be done with a 56. However you are going to open the club face so much that the 56 will actually be more like a 60-70 degrees.

**Leek** · March 19, 2008

Thanks for the advice guys! So I have to learn the flop shot, mmm... guess it's time for another lesson with the Pro

Unfortunately, I was typing a reply at the same time you were posting this. I listed a large number of options in this post

http://thesandtrap.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10667

**FoosIason** · March 19, 2008

You're good to go with a Sand Wedge (56 degrees)

You don't need a lob wedge.

**FoosIason** · March 19, 2008

That would be a two shot penalty for improving your lie.

I'm sure we're all aware of that Leek.

**BASHERBAKER69** · March 19, 2008

Leek- ive seen it done and ive said nothing-..its more common than you think. I have see this sort of thing done and done nothing because it is a bureaucratic nightmare giving evidence against a cheat..lol!

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Chip ... and DON'T run!

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